So long, 2020

OK, this wasn't the best year. But we still heard from plenty of friends (look at all those holiday cards!) and we still had lots of time for fun. So we're happy for the good times we had and hopeful we'll get a chance at even better ones next year. 

And, when life gets too tough, just take some time to relax with a partner in crime and remember what is really important. 
 

Even more Christmas

Holidays are never a sprint in our family -- they're more of a marathon. On Christmas Eve, we got a chance to hang out with Grandmom Linda and give her our photobook to remember all the wacky things we did this year. 

And then she backed up a sleigh and dumped a ton of gifts on us. Grandmoms are experts at spoiling kids. 

And just after Christmas, we got to hang out up at Aunt Jeanne's house for a bit with Tommy and Shane. Acting crazy with them was the best present of all. Well, that and all the extra Christmas candy. 

 

Christmas morning, 2020

This year has kept a lot of people away from our house ... but not Santa! We woke up to a whole mess of surprise presents from Mom and Dad and the North Pole. 

And don't worry, we took care of that wrapping paper lickety split! 

A Christmas dare

 

Do you think my face will get stuck to the lake if I lick the ice? 

Only one way to find out...

Cookies, cookies and more cookies

 

This isn't amateur hour, folks. Cookies are serious business around here, and you better be ready to work when the dough comes out. 

Snow!!!!

 

OK, it wasn't a major blizzard, but it was enough to make some slushy snowballs. That's good enough for some winter time outside!

Emma kinda made some snow/grass angels. It's the effort that counts. 

And Dad made a snowman as big as Emma! Who knew his engineering skills were so skilled that he could build a three-foot snowman out of less than a quarter inch of snow?

Wack-a-ball

Aunt Lari sent us a new tetherball set, which is awesome. We don't really understand the rules of the game, but we think it's all about screaming and getting dizzy. That's just good clean fun right there. 

Getting the decorations up

Dad usually finds a way to get the lights up while we're at school, but this year we helped him out since we've been home all the time. Next year he promised to let us both on the roof. 

Decorating inside is a lot easier -- the village lights don't require any ladders!
 

Me Tarzan

Tommy and Shane took us to visit their favorite rope swing, and it's harder than it looks. 

Emma had a little more luck:

Don't worry, Dad caught her before she swung out again. 

Children don't grow on trees

Well, not usually. But I guess Grandmom used special fertilizer or something on this one. 

 

Cooking class

Grandmom always says her cooking isn't as good as her mom's was, but it's a lot better than mine. It's about time she started giving me some Christmas cookie pointers. 

 

Christmas card outtakes

Jonathan smiled too hard on this one and I did smile enough. Don't worry, we'll get it together in time for our Christmas cards.